Chelonians

The Chelonians were an American religious cult which existed in the American West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded by Anders Helgerson, they recruited young and able men from the Valentine, Nebraska area and worshipped turtles and supported the idea of a utopian society called "Chelonia" which required financial contributions from all of its members in order to protect them from the evils of modernized America.